STRIKE AT MINE

Evening Post, Volume CXXX, Issue 3, 3 July 1940, Page 8

STRIKE AT MINE

ATTITUDE OF MEN

SERIOUS VIEW TAKEN

ACT OF SABOTAGE

The position at the Liverpool State coal mine, on the West Coast of the South Island, was discussed by both the Minister of Mines (the Hon. P. Cj. Webb) and the Prime Minister (the Hon. P. Fraser) late last night. Mr,. Webb outlined the circumstances lea'<&

ing up to the strike at the mine and the Prime Minister announced that, the Government would insist on compliance with the law. The trouble had started with an act of s§botage which might have endangered the lives of the miners who were now striking be-: cause the man responsible had been dismissed.

"The Government considers that th«_ action of the men in this time of national crisis is both unpatriotic and unu reasonable, and it is not prepared to; permit such action to impair and en? danger the national war effort and at the same time to cripple the ordinary economic life of the community," Mr* Webb said. ■*'. _

"The facts have been carefully ihi vestigated, and briefly they are these: At the end of May a shift man and adeputy found clear evidence of sabotage. The matter was investigated by the mine manager, who found that a young trucker was primarily responsible. The man was dismissed on the grounds of sabotage and endangering the lives of other miners. But the investigation did not rest merely with mine officials.

INVESTIGATING DISMISSALS.

"Some time ago it was agreed be* tween the Department and the union that in any case where a miner was dismissed by the management work would continue without interruption pending an investigation by the executive of the union. In the event of the executive and the management of the mine failing to reach an agreement, it was decided that the case should be referred to Mr. J. O'Brien, M.P., for consideration and his ruling was to be final and binding on both parties; It was further agreed that in any case where it was found that dismissal was unwarranted the Department would re* employ the workman and pay him for all time lost. v_;----"In the present case the executive of the union and the mine management could not agree, and the case was accordingly referred to Mr. O'Brien for a decision. As a result of his investigation and subsequent decision XjX was plain that the dismissal of ttt<s trucker was justified. The interpretation of the arbitrator's finding was challenged by the union, the members of which, together with the man dismissed, presented, themselves for worfc on Monday morning last. The mani ager'declined to permit the man to !go to work, and requested that ne should stand down till the position was clarified and Mr. O'Brien , given the opportunity of restating his decision in precise terms. The miners thereupon returned home and'later, in the morning the workmen engaged at the James and Strongman State collieries also ceased work." . _. Mr. Webb said that further investigations were conducted by himself and an undertaking was given that the spirit of Mr. O'Brien's decision would be adhered to, whatever it ipight be and however distasteful it might be, but the men must return to work the next day, Tuesday. The only condition on which the men would, return to work was a guarantee of the djmissed man's reinstatement and payment to him for time lost since he was dismissed. This condition was .refused by the Government the union would not agree to any return to worie while further negotiations took place.

PRIME MINISTER'S WARNING. "Compliance with the law will Jj? insisted on by the Government, even if this involves the closing down of the State Mines," said the Prime MmiSt 'The Government takes a very serjj ous view of the action taken by the SSon which, on the facts submitted i? not only without justification, but LtuaUy grotesque in so far as the men Je "opposing the management s efforts to suppress acts of sabotage which were Endangering the^ives^. some of their members. The strike LTbreach of the emergency regulations, and the Government cannotbelieve that a majority of the men concerned in the stoppage realise the serious nature of the war station or how badly they are letting down the country m thes time of rts neril if they realised that they are hampering New Zealand's effort to help ?he United Kingdom and the people there, I am certain the stoppage^would not last five minutes. In anyW compliance with the law will be insisted on by the Government, even. * this involves the closing down of the mines."

More than 500 men of the^three State coal mines in to T e a JJj^jS district, the .Liverpool, James an* citron-man pits, are affected oy xne g£Sg?A Greymouth message states that a mass meeting i<* XrSSI Miners' Union was • held at Runang yesterday afternoon, and it is c0I\ sl«Sed unUkely that the mines would be WT r heeddi ts opute' originated over the dismSal of a trucker at the Liverpool Sine for allegedly tying a knot m a £g"rope The rope was ruined and production slowed up.